Automatic fire-starting device.



J. A. LIGHTHIPE.

AUTOMATIC FIRE STARTING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY24,191L

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I +9455 7 I W l zmww INVENTOR ATTORNEY Loummm PLANDGRAPH 604. WASHINGTON. D. c;

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

JAMES A. LIGHTHIPE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-STARTING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Application filed July 24, 1911. Serial No. 640,112.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. LIGHTHIPE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Starting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire-starting devices and has for its object to provide in devices of the character specified new and improved means for automatically starting a fire, especially a protective smudge fire, ata time when the temperature falls dangerously low.

My present application is an improvement on the device shown in my application for Letters Patent Serial Number 617 ,282, filed on the 27 day of March, 1911, and has for its object to provide improved means for starting a fire-lighter automatically, at the desired temperature, and in combination therewith improved means for lighting a fire.

I accomplish my objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, of Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a device embodying my invention, showing its normal position; Fig. 2 a plan view thereof; and Fig. 3 a side elevation showing my device at the moment of starting the lighting.

The same numeral of reference marks the same part in whichever view it may appear.

My invention consists in broad terms of a mechanical fire lighting device, in combination with a device for starting its operation when the temperature falls to a very low point.

It also consists in a novel form of firelighting device comprising an explosive substance located in a fire-lighter, and percussive means for exploding the same.

It also consists in novel means for automatically starting the operation of a smudge fire-lighter whenever the temperature falls to a point that may be dangerous to fruit trees or orchards.

It also consists in the novel parts, combi nations and arrangements disclosed in the following description, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly set forth in the claims.

Beginning my description with the explanation of the fire-lighting part of my device, I provide an explosive substance, such as the fulminate contained in the cartridges of pistols, indicated at 1 on the drawing, which is preferably combined with a slow burning powder to give time for the resulting flame to communicate itself to the fuel, as gasolene, which forms part of the smudge fire.

A hammer 2 is arranged on a spring 3, so that it may strike a percussive blow on the explosive substance, and explode the same, and the hammer is normally held away from the explosive substance by a trigger 4. The side elevation on Fig. 1 shows the normal state of my device, which is the state it maintains during ordinary temperatures of the air, that is to say, above the freezing point.

The arrangement shown, including the base 5, the hammer 2, and its spring 3 fixed at one end of said base, the trigger 4t fixed at the other, and the cart-ridge 1 located where it may be struck by the hammer, is a cheap and convenient form of construction. But I am not aware that mechanically explosive means have ever been used before my invention for the purpose of starting fires, and I therefore do not confine the scope of my claims to the precise construction set forth, but desire to protect broadly the use of explosive substances mechanically exploded, in fire-lighting devices.

In my device there is a sharp division between the fire-lighting part, and the automatic starting part, the combination forming my automatic fire-starter; and having described my fire-lighting part, I will now describe the automatic means for starting the operation of the lighter.

The automatic starting device is based on the principle that water expands at freezing temperature; and I apply the principle by inclosing water 6 in a receptacle, as the tube 7, fixed on the base 5. One end of the tube 7 is raised to a position where it rests near the end of the trigger 4. A member movable by the expansion'of the water as the plug of paraffin wax 8 stops one end of the tube, and the outer end of said plug is located in such a position that it nearly touches the trigger 4. Precautions are taken in filling the tube to insure the absence of air, and the water and the plug quite fill the tube.

When the temperature falls to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the water expands and pushes out the plug of parafiin, and the movement of the plug aforesaid sets off the trigger of the fire-lighting part. The fire starting part therefore consists in the receptacle filled with water, and the portion thereof movable by the expansion of the water.

The tube and plug shown in the drawing show a cheap, convenient and efficient meansfor accomplishing the desired result; but I do not confine my invention to the precise construction illustrated, it being possible to use various forms of movable members adapted to be acted on by the expansion of the water.

The tube and plug shown in the drawing show a cheap, convenient and eflicientmeans for accomplishing the desired result; but I do not confine my invention to the precise construction illustrated; it being possible to use various forms of receptacles for the water, and various forms of movable members adapted to be acted on by the expansion of the water.

The plug having released the trigger, the hammer strikes the cartridge, which ex plodes, and its flame may be conveyed to any suitable fuel in any well known manner, either directly or through fuses.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, modifications within the scope of the claims being expressly reserved, is:

1. An automatic fire-starter comprising a percussive-1y explodable substance, a ham mer for exploding the same, a trigger, a receptacle adapted to be filled with water, and a member movable by the expansion of the water adapted to set off said trigger.

2. An automatic fire-starter comprising an explosive cartridge, a hammer for striking same, a spring for operating said hammer, a trigger for holding and releasing said hammer, a tube filled with water having one end sealed and the other closed by a movable plug in proximity with said trigger.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name, as such inventor, in the presence of two witnesses, whose namesare subscribed hereto, at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 18th day of- July, in the year 1911.

JAMES A. LIGHTHIPE.

In the presence of- DORAH WRIGHT, A. E. MORPI-IY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. c. 

